Tuesday, 25 December 2012

Muslim women are the British economy's major
untapped resources, as the latest census reveals a rise in this
country's Muslim population, it's time to take notice

A recent report published
by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Race and Community revealed
that Muslim women are encountering discrimination at work from the
application stage, through interviews, at recruitment agencies, and in
the workplace itself. Some individuals were even compromising their
religious beliefs by removing their hijabs and changing their names to
English sounding names in order to obtain employment.

We
need to question why this is happening. Should one really have to
choose between religion and a career? Should employers be more
accommodating to individuals wishing to practice their religion in the
workplace?

As a Muslim woman, I didn’t think I encountered any
discrimination in landing a job; I faced the usual hurdles any other
graduate would have faced. It was only once employed that I realised how
difficult the workplace can be for an individual wanting to practice
their religion.

Muslims are required to pray five times a day and
finding the time and space to do this was my first challenge. In my
first full-time job after graduating, I used my thirty-minute lunch
break to head to a nearby mosque, while in another, I used a quiet spot
in the local library. There were numerous occasions when prayer times
were too close together for me to slip away, I couldn’t get time off to
pray or I was in a meeting. The thought of telling clients ‘I need to go
to pray’ was very daunting.

However the biggest obstacles were
not practical, but social. There are certain topics of office
conversation around sex, alcohol and relationships that Muslim women
find themselves unable to participate in and as Islam requires modest
dressing, in offices were females are expected to dress in a particular
way, Muslim women are sometimes frowned upon for their choice of
clothing, in particular, the hijab.

An innocent invite for an
after-work drink can cause a major quandary for a practising Muslim.
These social gatherings in pubs provide opportunities for networking and
are often where managers seek out potential candidates for promotions.
In one role, I made my religious beliefs very clear on my CV and during
my interview, however, my welcome to the team was an outing ‘for a
drink.’ I can’t even recall the amount of times I turned down an invite
to join colleagues at the pub for a drink.

Even after clearly
highlighting my religious stance on alcohol, my colleagues saw no issue
with the occasional afternoon beers in the office and no one took notice
of how uncomfortable this made me feel. This lack of respect for
religious beliefs was what ultimately prompted me to leave the private
sector and find work in an Islamic faith-based institution.

I’m
not alone in this. Plenty of Muslims, both males and females, seek
alternative employment because of similar problems. A colleague of mine
left his career at a leading news agency because of the lack of
engagement with Islam and Muslims, while one of my friends insisted on
working from home to avoid these stresses. Another friend of mine
refused to declare she was Muslim for fear of being stereotyped.

While
faith-based organisations and public sector institutions are more
likely to be accommodating towards religious practices, many employers
still see religion as a nuisance and are unwilling to seek compromise.
It doesn’t help that some private sector institutions are now hiring based on ‘cultural fit’ rather than qualifications.
When religion is such a taboo subject in some workplaces, it’s
understandable why some Muslim women would choose to remain unemployed
rather than speak up and ask for facilities, such as prayer rooms.

I’m not suggesting that employers must revamp their institutions for their Muslim employees. But asthe latest census tells us that Muslims now make up 4.8 per cent of the population and with this figure expected to rise
every year, we need to start opening up discussion. Employers need to
learn more about the religious beliefs of their employees, whether
Muslim or non-Muslim, and be more flexible towards faith-based holidays
and think more creatively about inclusive social outings. Simple
initiatives like these can go a long way in creating a more productive
and happier workforce.

If my previous employers had been more
accommodating towards my religious beliefs, I would have stuck around to
see where my career in those organisations might lead. I have plenty of
Muslim friends who are educated and talented but are holding back on
seeking out opportunities in certain sectors for fear of compromising
their religious beliefs. It shouldn’t have to be this way. If employers
could be more engaging, I’m sure more people would be able to see the
potential of the hundreds of educated, career-driven Muslim women out
there.

Thursday, 25 October 2012

On Friday, the European Court of Human Rights made its final decision that British citizens Babar Ahmad and Syed Talha Ahsan were to be extradited to the United States.

Babar Ahmad responded
by indicating that his case had "exposed the fallacy of the UK's
extradition arrangement with the US, and I can now leave with my head
held high having won the moral victory."

Not only did he expose a system that is arbitrary and unfair but he
also exposed a society that, on the whole, does not care about
protecting and fighting for the basic rights of British citizens. For
that, we should all be completely ashamed of ourselves.

From those who represent us in government to mainstream media outlets
right down to the Muslim community, we have all played a part in
allowing this grave injustice to occur under our names.

It is no secret how deeply flawed and problematic the extradition
arrangements between the US and UK are. Under such a system, every one
of us is vulnerable to being picked up and flown out without having been
found guilty of a crime. Such a process, however, has been allowed to
continue with impunity for one simple reason - we, the British public,
allow it to go unchecked.

The number of Muslim organisations, mosques and activist groups have
been minimal at voicing their concern against the human rights abuses
carried out under the Extradition Act.
Only a handful of mosques and Muslim groups across the country felt it
necessary to address and campaign for Babar Ahmad and Talha Ahsan. Those
organisations who did not campaign claimed that the issue was
controversial and irrelevant to the welfare of Muslim communities.
However, the reality is that it wasn't controversial at all and it was
very relevant for the Muslim community to be aware of such men and in
particular, the Extradition Act 2003.

The men facing extradition were not asking to be freed from custody.
All they were asking for was a trial in Britain - a right that is, in
theory, given to every British citizen. For due-process and basic rights
to be ignored and violated in such a manner is extremely worrying and
should be a concern for every individual living in Britain.

Grouping Abu Hamza
with Babar Ahmad and Talha Ahsan was a method used to cover up the
blatant injustice being exercised against these two men. What is even
more disturbing, however, is that the majority of mainstream media
outlets followed suit by headlining the events leading up to Friday as
Abu Hamza and four other terror suspects. Only a limited number of media
outlets even bothered to report on Babar Ahmad, whilst Talha Ahsan's
voice has been virtually silent apart from a few opinion pieces and blog
posts.

Let us also not forget those politicians who have failed to raise
their voices against such gross violation of basic rights. In August
2011, an e-petition
calling on parliament to debate the Babar Ahmad case attracted close to
150,000 signatures, making it eligible for a full debate. Those 150,000
signatures were, however, completely ignored by our elected leaders
when parliament refused to debate the case.

Following on from the e-petition, an Early Day Motion (EDM-128)
was signed and supported by 62 MPs. Only 62 MPs believe it is their
responsibility to challenge a system where British citizens can be taken
away and shipped to the US without ever having been found guilty of a
crime under British law.

Immediately after the ruling, the home secretary ordered
the movement of both men to the US without their families having a
chance to say their final goodbyes. The emotional ordeal these families
have gone through after years of campaigning tirelessly for their sons
to be released has been distressing, to say the least, which the
docu-drama entitled Extradition clearly portrays.

Like many of us, I could have done more to help Babar and Talha. I
could have been out on the streets campaigning, protesting and educating
people, not to mention, chasing my MP to raise this issue in
parliament. If public pressure had been stronger, the outcome and
debate, I believe, would have unfolded differently. When the time comes
to place an 'X' on our ballot paper, Babar Ahmad's face and the failure
of the coalition government to stand up for British citizens should
consecutively run through our minds.

All I can do now is tell Babar Ahmad and Talha Ahsan how sorry I am.
Sorry Britain and the community you was once part of, paid taxes and
integrated into failed you. Failed to stand up for the principles of
democracy and human rights on which we stand for and preach to the rest
of world.

I now urge anyone who believes in human rights, democracy and the
rule law to take a stand on this issue. Let's write to our MPs,
newspapers and local politicians to demand a review of the unjust and
controversial law. Don't wait until it is you who is fighting extradition.

Tuesday, 11 September 2012

Today marks
the eleventh anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Eleven years ago, on this very
day, al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked planes and flew them into buildings on
American soil. Over 2,000 people in New York, Washington D.C and Pennsylvania
died and many were injured. The attacks marked a moment in modern history that
would have major consequences for the entire world.

Most of us
remember where we were when the news broke. I am no exception. I clearly
remember how I was sat in school, totally oblivious of what was happening.
Little did know that these events would not only change the lives of those
killed in the attacks but also have a devastating and profound effect on
millions of people across the globe, Muslim and non-Muslim alike.

While the
world and many of us remember the people who lost their lives, we must not
forget the voices of the voiceless who have indirectly also suffered as a
result of 9/11.

In the
after-math of 9/11, the Bush and Blair administration responded to the attacks
in the exact way al-Qaeda wanted. The War on Terror mantra was what al-Qaeda
desperately required in order to make itself into a global brand. The decision
to remove the Taliban by invading occupying Afghanistan and then Iraq only
strengthened the al-Qaeda narrative and was used to expand global recruitment,
as noted by Chris Hedges, the former al-Qaeda correspondent for the New
York Times.

Since the United States commenced military action
in Iraq, over one million Iraqis and over 4, 000 (officially acknowledged) U.S
military personnel have been killed. The total number of UK troops killed in operations in Iraq has reached
178.

While it is
difficult to determine the number of civilian deaths in Afghanistan, it is
estimated that this figure could be well into the millions and thousands for
military personnel. The innocents, however, have not only been restricted to
foreign lands. London, Madrid, New York, and other major cities throughout the
world have been targeted by smaller attacks, which intelligence services warned
would be made more likely if the US and UK invaded Iraq.

Along with military action in Iraq and Afghanistan,
the War on Terror also led to the introduction of counter-terrorism policies
that were specifically targeted at Muslims in the name of countering al-Qaeda
terrorism. While targeting Muslims may not have been intentional, these
policies bought on a wave on anti-Muslim sentiments ranging from racial attacks
to carte blanche surveillance programmes which are still being felt throughout
the world today.

We must also remember people likeJean Charles de Menezes, the
Brazilian electrician who was shot dead on the London underground by UK police
after being mistaken for a ‘suicide bomber.’Men like Babar Ahmad and Talha Ahsan are also notable examples of those who have
suffered as a result of imbalanced counter-terrorism policies implemented in
response to 9/11.

Let’s also
not forget the hundreds of innocent inmates who were and are still held and in
Guantanamo Bay. A document published by Wikileaks
showed that hundreds of Guantanamo detainees are
merely innocent Afghans or Pakistanis, including drivers, farmers and chefs who
were illegally charged for offences relating to terrorism and placed in
Guantanamo Bay.

Whilst the
mainstream understanding has been based on projecting Western nations as the
only victims of al-Qaeda’s terrorist attacks, this is far from the reality on
the ground. Indeed more Muslims have perished in al-Qaeda attacks then
non-Muslims living in the West. According to an article published in the Washington Times, in 2004 to 2008,
only 15% of the 3,010 victims killed in al Qaeda-related attacks were Western.
And in 2006 to 2008, only 2% (12 of 661 victims) were from the West, and the
remaining 98% of those killed were inhabitants of countries with Muslim
majorities.

While many
of us around the world attend and watch memorial services or express our
condolences to those who were killed in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania, let’s
also remember those one million plus who have been the silent victims of 9/11. They
also deserve our two minutes of silence.

Sunday, 2 September 2012

Meet 32 year old
British citizen, Talha Ahsan. Talha is a first class honours graduate,
poet and writer and suffers from Asperger Syndrome. He is one of Britain's
longest serving alleged terror detainees who have served the equivalent of a 12
year sentence at high security prisons, without a trial and without charge, in
the UK.

On April 10th 2012, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the extradition of Talha along with four other alleged terror
suspects to the United States would not breach their rights, despite the
prospect of life imprisonment in solitary confinement. While Talha’s final
appeal to the European Court of Human Rights is still under consideration, it
looks like in less than a month's time; he could be taken away from his loved
ones to serve a prison sentence in the US despite never being charged with an
offence. He has never visited America and has always denied all terrorism
charges.

Imprisoning British citizens without charge or trial goes against everything
that Britain or what being British stands for. The UK is the only country in the world that allows its own citizens to be extradited to
another country to face trial, without evidence, and for crimes which committed
at all, have been committed in the UK.

Meet Talha Ahsan

On 19 July 2006, Talha
Ahsan was arrested at his
home under the controversial Extradition Act 2003. He is accused in the US of
terrorism-related offences which arise out of an alleged involvement over the
period of 1997-2004 with the Azzam series of websites, one of which happened to
be located on a server in the US. American prosecutors claim that the now defunct website - Azzam Publications - was used to upload
'extremist' videos and raise funds for the Taliban and insurgents in Chechnya.

Talha Ahsan has never been questioned by British police, despite a number of
men also being arrested and questioned from his local area in December 2003 under
similar alleged charges. All were released without charge. One of them, Babar Ahmad, was later compensated £60,000 by the Metropolitan Police for the
violent physical abuse he endured whilst being arrested. It was evidence from
this encounter which formed the basis of Talha's arrest two and a half years
later.

According to the Free Babar Ahmad Campaign, Azzam.com was an information portal
providing updates of conflicts in Chechnya and Afghanistan in the 1990s, similar
to websites reporting on updates of the conflicts in Syria today, where there
is no independent media coverage. International Relations journalist, Phil Rees, told me
that similar websites like Azaam.com are functioning without scrutiny on American
servers.

Whichever claim is true may never be known as neither Talha nor Babar Ahmad have been given a right to have their say
in a British court; a right that should be afforded to every British citizen
facing any criminal charge.

If extradited, Talha Ahsan faces a prison sentence of up to 70 years in a
supermax solitary confinement prison. His Asperger Syndrome, which impacts his
ability to process information, has been completely ignored despite experts defining him as "an extremely vulnerable
individual who should be placed in specialist care rather than a supermax
prison.”

Innocent until proven guilty

I've never met Talha Ahsan and it is not my call to say whether he is guilty or
not. It shouldn't be my decision or the Muslim community's decision. Nor should
it be the police or Theresa May's decision.
Whether he is guilty or not should be determined in a British court by a
British judge and jury.

In a speech at the Munich Security Conference in 2011, Prime Minister, David Cameron stressed the
importance of universal human rights to be an integral component of British
values. He added that when dealing with extremism, his government should only
engage with those organisations and individuals who "believed in universal
human rights-including women and people of other faiths, equality before the
law, democracy and the right of the people.” The treatment of people subjected
to the Extradition Act, such as Ahsan, however, show just how
'universal' human rights are considered by those occupying the corridors of
power in Whitehall.

In August 2011, Babar Ahmad's family launched an e-petition calling for him to be given a trial in the UK. The petition attracted
close to 150, 000 signatures making it eligible for an official full parliamentary
debate. However, despite David Cameron's words on democracy and the right of
the people, the voices of these 150, 000 individuals were ignored by the
government when it refused to debate the case.

The Extradition Act 2003 has stirred enormous controversy because it
devalues the sovereignty of British citizenship. It was fast-tracked into UK
legislation without proper scrutiny. Currently, the act allows the US government
to extradite UK citizens and others for offences committed against US law, even
though the alleged offence has been committed in the UK by a person living and
working in the UK. Although this should work vice versa, many have argued that
Britain has been failing to protect its citizens by allowing the US to have an upper-hand when it comes to extraditing British
citizens. A Freedom of Information Request to the Home
Office revealed that not one single US citizen has been extradited from the US to the
UK under the Extradition Act 2003 for conduct committed on US soil. The
extradition treaty removes the most elementary civil rights such as habeas
corpus, the presumption of innocence until proven guilty, access to family and
protection from torture and inhumane treatment.

O’Dwyer,
a 24 year old student, is the subject of
up to 10 years imprisonment for alleged copyright offences relating to
TVShack.net, a website that provided links to places where users could watch TV
shows and films online. The fact that there are hundreds of other websites
operating like this across the world was not considered by the Home Office when
it decided to sign off O’Dwyer’s extradition.
Mckinnon, who also suffers from Asperger Syndrome, was indicted
by a US court in November 2002 after reportedly hacking into over 90 US
Military computer systems from his UK home. He is still fighting extradition.

As Hamja Ahsan, Talha Ahsan’s brother argues, “there are close family relationships between all the families
affected by this legislation. In sum, a bad piece of legislation bites back at
all British citizens. …. Even
Lithuania has better protections for its own citizens in relation to
extradition than Britain. In context, France doesn't extradite its
citizens at all. And within Holland, a foreign sentence is served on home
ground.”

The longer such injustices continue, the more Britain will continue to
undermine its credibility and trust in the eyes of its people. It is time for
this law to be reformed. An Early Day Motion 128, supported by 57 MPs
has been put forward in the House of Commons urging an immediate reform before
any British citizen is further extradited.

For a country that is supposed to be at the forefront of advocating
human rights, democracy and the rule of law, Britain is failing the most
important duty of all; protecting its own citizens.

Female Genital Cutting (FGC) in South Africa

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About Me

Journalist, writer and researcher specialising in issues concerning Muslim communities, community cohesion, radicalisation and counter-terrorism policy
Contributes to the Huffington Post UK and the Independent and hosts a blog on combating extremism